Steam-engine governor



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. H. GUNTHER.

STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

No. 602,578. Patented Apr. 19,1898.

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'w. GUNTHER. STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

No. 602,578. Patented Apr. 19,1898.

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Inventor Wwwo 005m 1 7 I II Attorney \VILLIAM HENRY GUNTHER, OF

STEAM-ENGIN PATENT OW'ENSBOROUGH, KENTUCKY.

E GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,578, dated April 19, 1898.

Application filed October 7,1897. Serial No. 654,339. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY GUN- THER,of O wensborough, Daviess county, Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engine Governors,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in centrifugal fly-ball governors, and the improvements will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a governor exemplifying my improvements; Fig. 2, a vertical section thereof in the-plane of the axis of the driving-shaft; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the governor; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the stop-motion cam and the stem-lip engaged by it, and Fig. 5 a perspective View of the stop-motion cam and stem-lip shown as separated.

In the drawings, giving particular attention to Fig. 2 and referring to the other figures of the drawings incidentally, 1 indicates the usual valve structure of throttling-governors; 2, the governor-housing, mounted, as usual, thereon and comprising a bonnet for the valve-chamber, an arch over the stuffingbox, a bearing for. the driving-shaft, and a bearing for the vertical rotary parts; 3, the usual stem attached to the governor-valve and projecting upwardly into attachment with the head of the governor, this stem, as usual, closing the governor-valve by a downward movement; 4, the foot of the governor, the same consisting of a journal rotating in a bearing in the top of the housing concentric with the valve-stem 3, a block being formed upon the upper portion of this journal; 5, a collar fitting loosely within a circumferential groove in the journal of foot 4; 6, a set-screw in the bearing engaged by the journal of the foot of the governor, this set-screw holding collar 5 against rotation and end movement, whereby the foot-journal of the governor is restrained against Vertical motion in its bearing in the housing; 7, the usual bevel-gear fast on the foot of the governor; 8, the usual driving shaft journaled in the horizontal bearing of the housing, its axial line intersecting the axial line of the foot-journal of the governor; 9, a bevel-gear fast on the drivin g-shaft and engaging bevel-gear 7, as usual,

the hub of this bevel-gear abutting, as usual,

against the inner end of the journal of the driving-shaft; 10, the inner end of the driving-shaft, the same having a bearing engagement with the exterior of the housing-bearing in which runs the foot-journal of the governor; 11, the driving-pulley, fast upon but adjustable along the driving-shaft; 12, a stationary journal-tube disposed axially with reference to the foot-journal of the governor, the lower end of this tube being fast and rigid in the housing, the foot-journal 4 of the governor surrounding this tube and taking a bearing thereon, the foot-journal having a long upward extension fitting around the journal-tube, so that the footjournal 4 not only has a hearing within the housing, but has an extended bearing around the journaltube, the valvesteni 3 passing freely through the journal-tube; 13, the head of the governor, the same comprising a tubular bearing surrounding the upper portion of the jou rnaltube, so as to turn and move vertically thereon, and a block at its upper portion; 14, thin.

flat suspender-springs having their upper ends rigidlysecured to the block of the head of the governor; 15, the governor-balls, firmly secured to the lower ends of the suspendersprings 14; 16, yokes straddling the governorballs and articulated thereto by horizontal pivots and projecting downwardly from the balls; 17, thin fiat springs having their upper ends firmly secured to the yokes 16 and having their lower ends firmly secured to the block of the governor-foot, the yokes forming, in effect, upper terminals of the springs 17, articulated to the balls; 18, adjusting lock-nuts on the upper end of valve-stem 3; 19, a cap-nut screwed upon a threaded boss on the governor-head, this cap-nut having a counterbore engaging above lock-nuts 18 or, preferably, over Washers disposed on the valve-stem over the lock-nuts; 20, a helical spring surrounding valve-stem 3, its lower end resting on the upper end of journal-tube 12, its upper end abutting under the lock-nuts 18, this spring having sufiicient strength to lift the valve-stem and valve and overcome the friction of the valve-stem in its stuffing-box, the tendency of the spring thus being to hold the valve-stem in as high a position as the head of the governor will permit, the valve-stem thus rising and falling with the head of the governor; 21, a tubular nut threaded around the tubular bearing of governor-head 13, its lower end presenting itself toward the governor-foot and its upper end being provided with a capstan-head; 22, the centripetal spring of the governor, the same being a helical spring surrounding the upper tubular bearing of the governor-foot, the lower end of the spring resting on a shoulder on the governor-foot, the upper end of the spring abutting against the lower end of nut 21; 23, a sleeve having its lower end carried by the governor-foot, the sleeve surrounding the spring 22 and its upper end surrounding the lower portion of nut 21; 24, a lip-piece fast on the governor-stem below the arch of the housing; 25, a lip projecting horizontally therefrom toward the pulley side of the governor; 26, a cam-shaft journaled in the housing below and parallel with the driving-shaft, the inner end of this cam-shaft projecting over the lip 25; 27, a plate-cam fast on the inner end of the cam-shaft and over the lip 25, this cam consisting of two side lobes and an intermediate depression engaging over the lip 25; 28, stops projecting inwardly from cam 27 and adapted, as the cam is turned in either direction, to come in contact with lip-piece 24 and limit the angular motion of the cam; 29, a hub adj ustably secured to the outer end of the cam-shaft; 30, an arm projecting outwardly from this hub 31, a pulley carried by the outer end of arm SO'and adapted to rest upon the belt which drives the governor; 32, attachment devices upon lever 30, adapted to receive connection from cord, chain, lever, or other devices employed when the governor is to be used as a sawyers valve, and 33 the governor-belt.

Under the action of centrifugal force the balls fl y out, springs 14 and 17 flexing to permit the motion, the lower springs 17, wever, having an articulate motion with reference to the balls, by reason of the presence of the pivots uniting the yokes to the balls. As the balls move outwardly the governorhead 13 moves downwardly and pressing down the valve-stem and closing the valve. As the governor-balls move inwardly the spring 20 raises the valve-stem, so that the valve-stem accompanies the governor-head in its vertical movements. Spring 20 is comparatively light and is not intended to furnish the centripetal force for the governor. The descent of the governor-head as the balls move outwardly is resisted by spring 22, which spring furnishes the centripetal force of the governor. The tension of this spring may be adjusted by turning nut 21. Sleeve 23 completely incases the centripetal spring. The centripetal spring turns with the governor, and as its tension is increased by screwing downward upon nut 21 there is no increase in friction of movement of the governor parts. Nuts 21 permits of a very eX- tended adjusting movement, thus providing for delicate adjustments for the speed of the governor. Driving-pulley 11 is, as usual, adjustable along the driving-shaft, and its hub may or may not engage against the outer end of the bearing of the driving-shaft; but inward motion of the driving-shaft is prevented by its end bearin g 10.

Pulley 31. rests on the governor-belt, and arm 27 is thus maintained in normal idle position, in which position it is without effect upon the valve-stem. If the belt breaks or runs off its pulleys, then pulley 31 drops, thus turning the cam, which results in moving the valve-stem downwardly and closing the valve. This forms the safety-stop of the governor. \Vhen the cam moves the valve-stem downwardly, the light spring 20 yields and permits of the movement, it thus not being necessary that the safety-stop should overcome the resistance of the comparatively stiff centripetal spring. Cam 27 has two lobes, and arm 30 may be adjusted to project either to the front or rear, thus providing for a drivingbelt leading to the governor in either direction. When the governor is to be used as a sawyers valve, then the usual hand controlling devices may be connected with lever 30 at attaching-point 32, lever 30 thus becoming the sawyers valve-lever, and when the governor is thus used the comparatively light spring 20 permits the proper movements of the valve-stem without disturbing the vertical position of the governor-head or disturbing the centripetal spring.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, with a governor-head and governor-foot mounted for rotation, of thin flat springs firmly secured to the governorhead and depending therefrom, a ball firmly secured at the lower end of each of said springs, and thin fiat springs having their lower ends secured to the governor-foot and having their upper ends articulately connected with said balls through the medium of horizontal pivots.

2. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, with a governor-head and governor-foot mounted for rotation, of thin fiat springs firmly secured to the governorhead and depending therefrom, a ball firmly secured at the lower end of each of said springs, bifurcated yokes depending from said balls and articulated thereto by horizontal pivots, and thin flat springs having their upper ends firmly secured to said yoke and having their lower ends firmly secured to the governor-foot.

3. In a governor, the combination, substan\ tially as set forth, of a housing having a vertical bearing in its top, a j ournal-tube concentrically disposed within said bearing and projecting above the same and having its foot firmly secured in the housing at the base of said bearing, a governor-foot mounted for rotation on said tube and having a journal fitting within said bearing and provided with a circumferential groove, a collar engaging said groove, a set-screw in the wall of said bearing and serving to hold said collar rigid in the bearing, a governor-head mounted to turn and move vertically upon the upper portion of said journal-tube, governor-balls connected with said governor-foot and governor-head, a spring to resist the outward movement of the balls, a Valve-stem connected with the governor-head, and means for transmitting rotary motion to the governor foot and head and balls.

4. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing, a journal-tube firmly supported thereby, a governor-foot mounted for rotation on said journal-tube, a governor-head mounted for rotation and for vertical movement on said journal-tube, governor-balls connected with the governor-head and governor-foot, a part surrounding said journal-tube and projecting from the governor-head toward the governor-foot, a helical spring surrounding the journal tube and compressed between the foot of said last-mentioned part and a shoulder on the governorfoot, and a tube surrounding said spring and having its foot secured to the governor-foot and having its upper end surrounding the upper abutment of the spring.

5. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing having a vertical bearing and a horizontal bearing with their axes intersecting, a journal-tube firmly supported by the housing concentric with said vertical bearing and projecting upwardly therefrom, a governor-foot mounted for rotation in said vertical bearing, a governor-head mounted for rotation and for vertical movement on said journal-tube, balls connected with the governor-head and governor-foot, a bevel-gear upon the governor-foot, a drivingshaft mounted in said horizontal bearing and having its inner end in bearing engagement within the exterior of said vertical bearing, and a bevel-gear upon the inner end of said driving-shaft with its hub abutting against the inner end of said horizontal bearing.

(3. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth,of a governor-head arranged for rotation and for vertical movement, a valve-stem engaging upwardly against a surface on the governor-head and free to move downwardly with reference to the governorhead, a spring serving to support the valvestem in an upward position against the shoulder on the governor-head, centrifugal devices serving to move the governor head downwardly, a centripetal device serving to move the governor-head upwardly, and mechanism for forcibly lowering the valve-stem against the resistance of the first-mentioned spring without disturbing the second spring or the governor-head.

7. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing, a j ournal-tube supported thereby, a governor-foot mounted for rotation on the journal-tube, a governorhead mounted for rotation and for vertical movement on the journal -tube, balls connected with the governor-foot and governorhead, a valve-stem within the journal-tube and projecting above the same, upwardly and downwardly presenting shoulders at the top of the valve-stem, a cap-nut upon the governor-head engaging the upwardly-presenting shoulder of the valve -stem, a spring compressed between the downwardly-presenting shoulder of the valve-stem and the upper end of the journal-tube, and mechanism for lowering the valve-stem With reference to the governor-head and against the resistance of said spring.

8. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing, a journal-tube carried thereby, a governor-foot mounted for rotation on the j ournal-tube, a governor-head mounted for rotation and for vertical movement on the journal-tube, balls connected with the governor-foot and governor-head, a valve-stem engaging upwardly against a part of the governor-head so as to be forced downwardly as the governor-head moves downwardly, a spring supporting the valve-stem and yieldingly resisting its downward movement, a lip carried by the valve-stem, a camshaft mounted in the housing and having a cam engaging said lip, and devices for partially rotating said cam-shaft.

9. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a valve-stem connected with the governing parts, a lip carried by the valve-stem, a cam-shaft mounted at right angles to the valve-stem and presenting its end over said lip, a double-lobed cam on said camshaft and engaging said lip, and an arm on said cam-shaft to serve in giving the camshaft a motion of partial rotation.

10. In a governor, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing supporting the governing parts and the driving-shaft, a lip carried by the valve-stem, a cam-shaft mounted in the housing parallel With the drivingshaft and presenting its end over said lip, a cam on said cam-shaft and engaging said lip, an arm projecting from said camshaft, and a pulley carried by said arm and adapted to rest upon the governor-belt.

WILLIAM HENRY GUNTHER.

Witnesses:

TAZEWELL W. CAMPBELL, L. 0. HEARNE. 

